A Bahamian who lost her leg to cancer but went on to inspire many was named Godmother of Royal Caribbean’s newest ship - Odyssey of the Seas.
Erin Brown is a 41-year-old mother of two and a para triathlete competing at the international level. She will accept the honor of blessing Odyssey of the Seas at her naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida) on Saturday, November 13.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said that from the moment they heard Erin’s story, they were moved and knew she was "a natural choice for Godmother" of their newest ship, Odyssey of the Seas.
During her time as a collegiate track & field athlete, Brown was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer after suffering a fall. Following more than a year of chemotherapy, the tumor showed no signs of shrinking, and she decided to amputate her limb above the knee, knowing she had to keep going because of her family. “Mind over matter,” Brown repeated, and reinvented herself.
Erin Brown said she recognized that her disability had been a signal to start over.
The first time Brown completed The Bahamas' 100-mile cycling event "Ride for Hope" in order to raise money for cancer research and prevention, she led a group of adaptive athletes under the applause from the crowd that witnessed Brown achieve what few with a pair of legs could on hilly terrain.